The highway is a gateway to the capital.[break]
“Given the complete destruction of the road section, we have no alternative to rehabilitating the 18-km stretch. However, we cannot commence the rehabilitation work earlier than one year from now,” said Tulsi Prasad Sitaula, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MoPPW).
Sitaula said the only way to manage traffic on the run-down road was by patching it up on a temporary basis. There has been no resealing work along the section for the last five years due to budget constraints.
According to technicians, the rehabilitation work will require at least Rs 30 million per km.
Following a cabinet decision, the Prime Minister´s Office (PMO) had directed MoPPW two weeks ago to take immediate steps to improve the road section. The road was destroyed by the unregulated number of trucks and trippers ferrying wet sand far above their load capacity, in violation of traffic regulations.
PMO has also directed the authorities to strictly restrict trucks carrying loads in excess of their limit and to permit them to enter the capital only with load clearance documents proving that they are carrying loads -- mainly sand, aggregate, rods and cement -- within the prescribed limit.
Installation of a load weighing bridge along the Belkhu-Naubise section within two months, controlling the loading of wet sand directly onto trucks at the quarries and completion of complete repairs along Prithwi Highway by November 26 are included in the action plan that PMO has directed MoPPW to implement.
“The action plan has categorically allocated responsibility to the Department of Transport Management and Nepal police to depute three staffers each from one department to control unauthorized transport of sand and other river products beyond the limit allowed,” Sitaula added.
Expressing concern over the high incidence of traffic chaos, PMO has also directed that proper arrangements be made for the security of commuters during traffic jams and arrange for the transport of bamboo, rods and other materials along the highway.
According to Sitaula, the Department of Roads has been conducting a survey for resealing different sections of road from Nagdhunga to Birgunj under the World Bank´s Road Sector Development Project (RSDP).
PMO seeks clarification on road upkeep
The Prime Minister´s Office (PMO) has sought clarifications from Ram Kumar Lamsal, director general of the Department of Roads (DoR), over the nominal progress in maintenance of the Naubise-Thankot road, which has been devastated by uncontrolled movement of overloaded vehicles.
“We inquired about the reasons behind the discouraging progress in maintenance of the road section and sought a commitment from the director general, today (Wednesday),” Lilamani Poudel, secretary at PMO, told Republica. Hardly 500 meters of the 18-km raod section has been maintained so far.
On the occasion, DG Lamsal expressed commitment to complete the much delayed maintenance work on the road by Nov 26 -- the deadline set in recent instructions from PMO. Lamsal clarified that the recent Dashain and Tihar holidays had hampered the maintenance work.
DoR is also planning to conduct a feasibility study on a possible alternative route for the Nagdhunga - Dharke section to avoid disturbance in maintenance work from vehicles plying the road. PMO has also directed Lamsal to demand a daily maintenance work schedule from the contractor.
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